Indent hardness-gage



C. M. ZUBLER.

INDENT HARDNESS GAGE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I5. I92I.

Patented Oct. 18, 1921..

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INVENTOR J" ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES CAMP M. ZUBLER, OF PHILADELPHIA,PENNSYLVANIA,

JOHN J. DAVIES, JR,

ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO 0]? PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IN DEN '1 HARDNESS-GAGE.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CAMP M. ZonLnn, a citizenof the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia,State of ennsylvania, have invented a new and useful IndentHardness-Gage, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of a novel construction of an indent hardnessgage, which is designed to determine the relative hardnessof steel orother metals or the comparative hardness between steel or other metalsof the same class, grade or composition, my novel gage being especiallyadapted for testing different sections of one or more bars of steel orsteel in sheet form or other metals or ma terials, or to compare onesection of one bar with another.

To the above ends, my invention consists of a novel construction of aportable frame or body, having an adjusting screw mounted in one portionthereof and a spring-actuated ball-pointed plunger mounted in anotherportion thereof and in alinement with said screw and adapted to belocked in its upward position with said spring compressed, means beingprovided for unlocking said plunger and permitting the tension of saidspring to propel said plunger forwardly so that the ball-pointed end ofthe same will indent the material to be tested.

ther novel features of advantage and novelty will be hereinafter fullydescribed and pointed out in the claims.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, I have shown in theaccompanying drawings forms thereof which are at present preferred byme, since they will give in practice satisfactory and reliable results,although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities ofwhich my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized andthat my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement andorganization of these instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of an indent hardness gageembodying my invention, certain ortions thereof being shown in sectionand the plunger being shown in elevated position.

Fig. 2 represents a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing the plunger inits lowest posi- Specification of Letters Patent. Application filedMarch 15, 1921.

Patented Oct. 18, 1921. Serial No. 452,423.

tion in the be tested.

Fig. 3 represents a the plunger rod being line 33, Fig. 1.

Figs. 4 and 5 represent vertical sectional views, partly in elevation,through the upper portion of the plunger chamber. tie relative positionof the locking device act of indenting the material to plan view of Fig.1, shown in section on latter is in its extreme positions.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings 1 designates my novel construction of indenthardness gage, the same comprising the main frame or body 2 which is andmay be made of a forging, casting or the like, of any desired contour,and provided with the alining upper and lower portions or heads 3 and 4respectively. The lower head 4 is bored and threaded to receive theadjusting screw 5, which is provided with a knurled head 6, or the like,whereb said screw can be readily manipulated or rotated. The upper oralining head 3 of the frame is bored and reamed to form the chamber 7 inwhich is located the plunger 8 having the pendant ball-pointed orindenting end 9, and the upwardly extending plunger rod 10, whose upperend passes through the upper closure or collar 11, which is held in theupper portion of the plunger chamber 7 by means of the screw or otherfastening device 12.

13 designates a coiled spring or other similar tension device, whoselower end rests upon the top of the plunger 8, and whose upper endcontacts with the bottom of the collar 11. The rod 10 is provided at itsupper portion with 'the shoulder 14 and upper end the knob 15,

tion seen in Fig. 2 to the position seen in Fig. 1, in which latterposition the catch 16 snaps under the shoulder 14 by reason of thetension of the spring 17, or its equivalent.

he shoulder 14 on the rod 10, is preferably formed by making a portionof said rod conical, but it may be formed by other means.

It will be apparent, that any suitable form of catch or like. fasteningdevice 16 may be termined, is placed employed to hold the plunger 8temporarily in its elevated position seen in Fig. 1, and while I have inthe present instance shown said catch 16 as of angular construction andcomposed of the horizontal member 16, the vertical member 18 and thehorizontal member 19 fulcrumed at the point 20 and provided with thethumb piece 21, which is adapted to contact with the stop or pin 22, itwill be apparent that other forms of catches or looking devices may beemployed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

The ball-pointed or indenting end 9 of the plunger 8 is adapted to passthrough or into the alining opening 23 in the bottom of the lungerchamber 7 when in the act of mak- 1ng an indentation upon the sheet 26or the material to be tested, said sheet being clamped against the face25, by the adjusting screw 5.

While I have shown the frame, yoke 2 as being of curved contour, beapparent that the shape of the same may be changed and I preferablylocate upon said frame the gage plate 24, which has thereon concavitiesof varying dimensions or depth, which may have suitable insignia inproximity thereto such aS H, hard, 2 one half hard; 9; one quarter hard,and S, soft, which are adapted to be compared with the indentation madeon the material 26 to be tested.

The operation is as follows 1- The sheet of steel or other material 26,whose relative harness is to be tested, or deagainst the face 25 andlocked or clamped in the position shown in Fig. 1, by means of theadjusting screw 5. The operator then pulls upwardly upon the knob 15,whereupon the parts move from the position seen in Figs. 2 and 5 intothe position seen in Fig. 1, in which latter position, the catch 16snaps under the shoulder 14:, by reason of the action of the flat spring17 or its equivalent, said catch 16 now appearing as seen in Figs. 1, 3and 4. The operator next presses with his thumb upon the thumb piece 21,so that the latter moves toward the pin 22, whereupon the catch 16 isdisengaged or unlocked from the shoulder 14. The tension of spring 13now drives plunger and its ball-pointed end downwardly from the positionseen in Fig. 1, into the position seen in Fig. 2, said ball-pointed orindenting end passing through the opening 23 and making an indentationin the sheet of metal 26. The

adjusting screw 5 is then loosened, the sheet body or y of materialremoved from the face 25, and

the relative size or character of the indentation, which will be largeror smaller according to the softness or hardness of the material, canthen be compared with the scale 24 or can be measured with a thintransparentcelluloid scale on which is stamped two tapering V-shapedlines, one line of which has it will standard or pre-determined hardnessma ks placed at right angles, denoting H, hard one-half hard, 1one-quarter hard, and S, soft or if desired other insignia may be placedon the celluloid.

\Vhile I have shown my novel gage, as equipped with a steel helicalspring 13, it will be apparent that any other equivalent tension devicemay be employed, its function being to drive or force the ball-pointedend 9 into the material to be, tested, so as to indent the same withoutthe use of a hammer or a weight or by compression, as with cams orlevers, it being apparent that my novel gage is not intended toascertain what would be known as a standard hardness for all metals, butto test one or more sections of steel in sheet form or other metals orto compare one section or one bar with another.

It will now be apparent that I have devised a novel and useful indenthardness gage, which embodies the features of advantage enumerated asdesirable in the statement of the invention-and the above description,and while I have, in the present instance, shown and described apreferred embodiment thereof which will give in practice satisfactoryand reliable results, it is to be understood that such embodiment issusceptible of modification in various articulars without departing fromthe spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of itsadvantages.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the character stated, a body, a threaded adjustingscrew mounted therein, a plunger chamber formed on said body inalinement with said screw, a plunger in said chamber having aball-pointed end, adapted to pass throuh an opening in the bottom ofsaid plunger chamber, a rod for said plunger, an upper closure for saidchamber through which said rod passes, a spring intermediate saidclosure and plunger, a shoulder on said plunger rod, and a lockingdevice adapted to coact with said shoulder, and temporarily retain saidplunger in its raised position with said spring compressed.

2. In a device of the character stated, a body having alining heads, athreaded adjusting screw mounted in one of said heads, a plunger chamberformed in the other of said heads, a plunger in said chamber having apendant mdenting end, a collar closing the top of said plunger chamber,a spring interposed between said plunger and collar, means for lockingsaid plunger in elevated position with said spring compressed, and meansfor unlockin said plunger.

3. In a device 0 the character stated, a body having alining heads, athreaded adjusting screw mounted in one of said heads,

a plunger chamber formed in the-other of said heads, a plunger in saidchamber having a pendant ball pointed'end, adapted to pass through anopening in the bottom of said plunger, a collar, a spring, between saidplunger and said collar, means for locking said plunger in elevatedposition, and means for unlocking said plunger, said lockin meanscomprising a, spring-pressed catcl pivotally mounted on said frame, athumb piece for said catch, and means for arresting the extent ofmovement of said catch.

In a device of the character stated, a body having alining heads, athreaded adjusting screw mounted in one of said heads,

a plunger chamber having an opening in its bottom, a plunger in saidchamber having a ball-pointed end adapted to pass through said opening,a closure for the top of said chamber, a rod for said plunger passingthrough said closure, a shoulder in said rod, a laterally movable springpressed catch pivotally mounted on said body, and provided with a fingerpiece and a stop on said body for arresting the movement of said fingerpiece.

CAMP M. ZUBLER. Witnesses E. HAYWARD FAIRBANKS, JOHN J. DAVIES, Jr.

